Coveying apparatus and rotary type transfer apparatus for spout-equipped bags

ABSTRACT

A rotary type transfer apparatus used in a continuous manufacturing apparatus for spout-equipped bags. The transfer apparatus includes a transfer rotor and a driving device and installed next to an extraction apparatus. The transfer rotor has spout holding members on its circumference, and the driving device causes the transfer rotor to rotate intermittently in a cycle of stopping, acceleration, constant-speed rotation, deceleration and stopping and causes the speed of the spout holding members of the transfer apparatus to coincide with the speed of the spout holding members of the extraction apparatus during the period of constant rotation and causes the spout holding members to run side by side. During the constant-speed rotation, spouts are transferred from the spout holding members of the continuously rotating extraction apparatus to the spout holding members of the rotary type transfer apparatus via a guide member.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/971,265 filed Oct.3, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,462.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus and moreparticularly to a conveying apparatus for bags that have spouts attachedthereto (hereinafter called “spout-equipped bags”) and is installed on adownstream side of a continuous manufacturing apparatus for such bags,and the present invention further relates to a rotary type transferapparatus that is especially suitable for such a conveying apparatus.

2. Prior Art

In prior art, spout-equipped bags are manufactured by, for instance, arotary type continuous manufacturing apparatus for spout-equipped bagsas disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Nos.11-208884 and 11-124213.

After such spout-equipped bags are continuously extracted via anextraction rotor that is disposed in an adjacent position, the bags aretransferred to conveying rails (by way of, for instance, allowing thegrooves located between flanges formed on the spouts to be insertedbetween the rails), the bags are sent “as is” in a single row along theconveying rails toward a liquid substance filling device (as disclosedin, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No.11-124213). In another method, after the bags are arranged andaccommodated on rail-form accommodating members from the conveyingrails, they are supplied to a liquid substance filling device whilebeing accommodated on the accommodating members (as disclosed in, forinstance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 11-263302and Japanese Patent No. 2500557 (Laid-Open No. H05-170252)).

In the above prior art, spout-equipped bags which are held on thecircumference of a continuously rotating extraction rotor must betransferred to conveying rails that are in a stationary state. Sincethis transfer must be performed at the instant at which thespout-equipped bags reach the position of the conveying rails, thetransfer process abruptly becomes unstable in cases where the processingspeed (units/minute) of the transfer operation is increased, resultingin numerous transfer errors (bag insertion failure, etc.). Thus, thoughthe rotary type continuous manufacturing apparatus and extraction rotorof the above-described types are used for the purpose of increasing theproductivity of spout-equipped bags, stable high-speed processing cannotbe accomplished.

Furthermore, troubles would occur in the process line on the downstreamside of the extraction rotor. Such troubles include a case where atransfer error in the transfer from the extraction rotor to theconveying rails occurs, a case where the conveying rails malfunctions, acase where some type of trouble occurs in the device that arranges andaccommodates the spout-equipped bags on the rail-form accommodatingmembers, and a case where a filling device is connected to thedownstream side of the conveying rails and this filling device isstopped. When such troubles occur, the continuous manufacturingapparatus for spout-equipped bags is immediately stopped, and thetrouble area is inspected and repaired. However, when the continuousmanufacturing apparatus for spout-equipped bags is stopped, the sealingtreatment of the spouts and bags under process inside the apparatusbecomes defective; in addition, the spouts and bags held in the stoppedsealing apparatus are melted as a result of the heat, and the fusion ofplastic to the sealing apparatus, etc. occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to solve the above-described problems with theprior art.

One object of the present invention is to allow stable high-speedprocessing with respect to the transfer of the spouts from theextraction rotor to the conveying rails.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the occurrence ofdefective sealing and the fusion of plastic to the sealing apparatus,etc., even in cases where some type of trouble occurs on the downstreamside of the extraction rotor.

The above objects are accomplished by a unique structure for a rotarytype transfer apparatus for spout-equipped bags in which thespout-equipped bags are received from a plurality of first spout holdingmembers which are disposed on a circumference of a working rotor thatrotates continuously at a constant speed, and the spout-equipped bagsare rotationally conveyed and transferred to a rail type conveyingapparatus installed on a downstream side of the rotary type transferapparatus; and in the present invention the rotary type transferapparatus further comprises:

a transfer rotor which has a plurality of second spout holding membersdisposed on a circumference thereof, and

a driving means which causes the transfer rotor to rotate intermittentlya predetermined angle at a time in a fixed cycle of stopping,acceleration, constant speed, deceleration and stopping, the drivingmeans causing speed of the second spout holding members during theconstant-speed rotation to coincide with speed of the first spoutholding members and causes the first and second spout holding members torun side by side,

wherein the second spout holding members receive the spout-equipped bagsfrom the first spout holding members during the constant-speed rotation,and the spout-equipped bags are transferred from the second spoutholding members to a rail type conveying apparatus provided on adownstream side at a predetermined stopping position of the second spoutholding members.

Here, the “working rotor” refers to a rotor which is installed adjacentto the rotary type transfer apparatus on the upstream side of thetransfer apparatus; and it can be a rotor of a rotary type continuousmanufacturing apparatus or an extraction rotor thereof.

In the above rotary type transfer apparatus for spout-equipped bags,

a movement path of centers of spout holding positions of the secondspout holding members and a movement path of centers of spout holdingpositions of the first spout holding members are provided so as toapproach each other,

the transfer rotor rotates at a constant speed while the second spoutholding members pass near a position of the maximum proximity of the twomovement paths,

both of the first and second spout holding members are provided withholding grooves which are oriented radially outward and which holdgrooves located between flanges formed on the spouts, and

tapered surfaces that open outward are formed near entrance areas of theholding grooves; and in addition

spouts of the bags which are held in the holding grooves of the firstspout holding members are conveyed into the holding grooves of thesecond spout holding members while the transfer rotor rotates at aconstant speed.

In the above structure, it is preferable to install a guide member thatconveys the spout-equipped bags from the first spout holding members tothe second spout holding members so that the guide member is disposedbetween the working rotor and the transfer rotor. The guide member isprovided with a guide groove that is formed continuously from themovement path of the centers of the spout holding positions of the firstspout holding members to the movement path of the centers of the spoutholding positions of the second spout holding members; and head portionsof the spouts are inserted into the guide groove and guided along theguide groove.

It is further preferable to install a push-out device which, above theholding grooves, pushes the spouts out of the holding grooves of thesecond spout holding members that are stopped at the stopping positionby means of a pusher which advances and retracts in a radial directionof the transfer rotor, thus feeding the spouts out toward the rail typeconveying apparatus. The push-out device is preferably provided with asafety mechanism which automatically stops a movement of the pushertoward outside in a radial direction of the transfer rotor when aresistance that exceeds a predetermined value is applied to the pusherduring the above movement of the pusher toward the outside.

Furthermore, the conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bags of thepresent invention comprises the above-described rotary type transferapparatus and a rail type conveying apparatus which is disposed on adownstream side of the rotary type transfer apparatus. The rail typeconveying apparatus is comprised of a transfer rail device that isdisposed on a furthest upstream side of the rail type conveyingapparatus as a part of the rail type conveying apparatus, and thistransfer rail device comprises:

transfer rails which are installed so as to be oriented radially outwardfrom a predetermined stopping position of the second spout holdingmembers and are used to receive spouts of spout-equipped bags from theholding grooves of the spout holding members stopped at the stoppingposition and to transfer the spouts to a following rail type conveyingapparatus, and

a driving means which moves the transfer rails from a position where thetransfer rails are installed to a retracted position in which the railsdo not receive spouts.

In the above conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bags, it is furtherpreferable that the spout holding members of the transfer rotor andspout guides provided on the transfer rails are disposed at differentheights, and grooves of the spouts that are held in the holding groovesof the spout holding members and grooves of the spouts into which thespout guides of the transfer rails are inserted are positioned atdifferent heights in a vertical direction. In this case, it is necessarythat a plurality of grooves at different levels in a vertical directionbe formed in side surfaces of the spouts.

It is additionally preferable to design so that

of the pair of spout guides of the transfer rails, a spout guide that ispositioned on a front side with respect to a rotation of the transferrotor extends to a position that overlaps with a movement path ofcenters of spout holding positions of the spout holding members of thetransfer rotor, and

the transfer rails are arranged so as to swing within a horizontalplane; and so that

when spouts that are held by the spout holding members and moved come incontact with the transfer rails, the transfer rails swing horizontallyand escape from the movement path.

Furthermore, in the above-described conveying apparatus forspout-equipped bags, a rotary type transfer apparatus that performs apredetermined intermittent rotational operation is combined with atransfer rail device, and this arrangement is taken based upon thestructure in which a continuously rotating working rotor is present onthe upstream side and spout-equipped bags are continuously received fromthis working rotor. However, this transfer rail device is not limited toa rotary type transfer apparatus that performs such a predeterminedintermittent rotational operation. As long as the rotary type transferapparatus is a rotary type transfer apparatus that is equipped with atransfer rotor in which a plurality of spout holding members that haveradially oriented holding grooves that hold grooves located betweenflanges formed on the spouts are disposed on the circumference of therotor and is equipped with a driving means which causes this transferrotor to rotate intermittently a predetermined angle at a time, aconveying apparatus can be constructed in combination with this rotarytype transfer apparatus

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the continuous manufacturing apparatus forspout-equipped bags according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bagsand the accommodating apparatus for such bags;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the rotary type transfer apparatus (with thetransfer rotor stopped) and the extraction apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rotary type transfer apparatus (with thetransfer rotor rotating at a constant speed) and the extractionapparatus;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are diagrams that illustrate the conveying of aspout form the spout holding member of the extraction apparatus to thespout holding member of the rotary type transfer apparatus;

FIG. 6A is a front view of one of the spouts, and FIG. 6B is a side viewthereof;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the push-out device of the rotary type transferapparatus;

FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of the push-out device;

FIG. 9 is a side view (partially sectional) thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the transfer rail device;

FIG. 11 is a sectional front view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the second rail device;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are side views thereof;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the third rail device and the accommodatingapparatus for spout-equipped bags;

FIG. 15 is a sectional side view thereof; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional front view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The rotary type transfer apparatus and conveying apparatus forspout-equipped bags (called “spout-equipped bags”) provided by thepresent invention will be described in concrete terms with reference toFIGS. 1 through 16.

First, FIG. 1 shows one example of a continuous manufacturing apparatusfor spout-equipped bags (for details, see Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2000-180633).

In this continuous manufacturing apparatus, bags are supplied to a spoutinsertion and temporary-sealing apparatus 2 from a continuousbag-supplying apparatus 1, and spouts are supplied to the spoutinsertion and temporary-sealing apparatus 2 from a spout-supplyingapparatus 3. In the spout insertion and temporary-sealing apparatus 2,the spouts are inserted into the bags, and temporary sealing isperformed on the sealing parts by a temporary-sealing apparatus 4, andthe spouts and bags are connected.

On the downstream side of the spout insertion and temporary-sealingapparatus 2, a primary sealing apparatus 5, secondary sealing apparatus6 and cold-sealing apparatus 7 are respectively installed in series withtransfer devices 8 through 10 in between. An extraction apparatus 11 isinstalled at the end of this series of apparatuses. The spout insertionand temporary-sealing apparatus 2 and the respective apparatuses 5through 11 are all equipped with continuously rotating rotors, and thespouts and bags are subjected to predetermined processing while beingrotationally conveyed in a continuous manner.

FIG. 2 shows a conveying apparatus 12 for spout-equipped bags and anaccommodating apparatus 13 for such bags. These apparatuses 12 and 13are disposed on the downstream side of the extraction apparatus 11.

The conveying apparatus 12 is comprised of a rotary type transferapparatus 14, which is disposed adjacent to the extraction apparatus 11,and a rail type conveying apparatus 15, which is disposed on thedownstream side of the rotary type transfer apparatus 14. The rail typeconveying apparatus 15 is comprised of a first rail device (transferrail device) 16, a second rail device 17 and a third rail device 18.

The accommodating apparatus 13 for spout-equipped bags is comprised ofan empty-accommodating-rail feed-in device 21, a full-accommodating-railfeed-out device 22, and an accommodating-rail raising-and-loweringdevice 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary type transfer apparatus 14 is comprisedof a transfer rotor 25 and a driving means (not shown). The transferrotor 25 has a plurality of spout holding members 24 disposed on thecircumference thereof. The driving means causes the transfer rotor 25 torotate intermittently a predetermined angle at a time (i.e., the anglebetween adjacent spout holding members 24) in a cycle that consists ofstopping, acceleration, constant-speed rotation, deceleration andstopping.

It is designed so that the movement path A of the centers of spoutholding positions of the spout holding members 24 and the movement pathB of the centers of spout holding positions of spout holding members 26of the extraction apparatus 11 approach each other.

The mechanism itself that starts the above-described cycle isuniversally known as an indexing device.

The time of one cycle of the spout holding members 24 is set by theabove-described driving means so as to be equal to the time required forthe spout holding members 26 to advance by one pitch (i.e., the anglebetween adjacent spout holding members 26). The transfer rotor 25rotates at a constant speed while its spout holding members 24 passthrough the vicinity of the position of closest proximity of the twomovement paths A and B (i.e., the transfer position C). The spoutholding members 24 and spout holding members 26 rotate at the same speedand run side by side during this constant-speed rotation.

The spout holding members 24 and 26 both have more or less parallelholding grooves 24 a and 26 a, which are oriented in the radialdirections of the respective rotors, and tapered portions 24 b and 26 b,which open outward and are formed in the vicinity of the entrance areasof the holding grooves 24 a and 26 a. The spout holding members 24 arepositioned so as to be at a different height from the spout holdingmembers 26. Thus, though the paths A and B of the two sets of spoutholding members partially overlap (to the extent that the taperedportions 24 b and 26 b of the two sets of spout holding members overlap)when viewed from above as shown in FIG. 3, the spout holding members donot interfere with each other (see FIG. 5).

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a spout S. The spout S has flanges a, b and c andgrooves d and e that are located between the flanges. The grooves d ande are respectively held in the holding grooves 24 a and 26 a. In theshown spout S, f indicates a sealing part, and h indicates a headportion.

A guide member 27 which transfers the spout-equipped bags from the spoutholding members 26 to the spout holding members 24 is disposed betweenthe rotor of the extraction apparatus 11 and the transfer rotor 25. Theguide member 27 has a recessed groove 27 a (see FIG. 5) into which thehead portions h of the spouts S are inserted. The recessed groove 27 ais continuously formed. The center of the recessed groove 27 a at theentrance point of the guide member 27 is located on the upstream-sidemovement path B, the center gradually receding from the movement path B(i.e., approaching the movement path A) as the recessed grooveapproaches the transfer position C, the center passes through a positionthat is intermediate between the two paths A and B at the transferposition C, and the center is located on the movement path A at the exitpoint of the guide member 27.

When a spout S is held at its groove e by the holding groove 26 a of thespout holding member 26 and rotated and approach the guide member 27,the head portion h of the spout S enter the recessed groove 27 a (seeFIG. 5A), and then the spout S is guided by this recessed groove 27 a sothat the spout S is gradually pulled outward from the center of thespout holding position of the spout holding member 26. Then, thetransfer rotor 25 enters the period of constant-speed rotation, and thetapered portions 24 b and 26 b of the holding grooves 24 a and 26 aassume a state of partial overlapping when viewed from above.

Then, when both holding grooves 24 a and 26 a reach the transferposition C, the spout S is pulled out as far as the tapered portion 26 bof the holding groove 26 a, and at the same time, the groove d of thespout S is introduced into the tapered portion 24 b of the holdinggroove 24 a (See FIGS. 4 and 5B). Furthermore, during the period ofconstant-speed rotation, the spout S is pulled completely out of thetapered portion 26 b of the holding groove 26 a and is then pushed intothe holding groove 24 a as far as the center of the spout holdingposition, so that transfer is completed (see FIG. 5C).

In the above, the heights of the spout holding members 24 and spoutholding members 26 are set to be different so that the two sets of spoutholding members overlap in the vicinity of the transfer position C.Thus, the spouts S can be assuredly transferred from the holding grooves26 a of the spout holding members 26 to the holding grooves 24 a of thespout holding members 24.

In the above-described transfer of the spouts S, since the fan-shapedtapered portions 24 b and 26 b that open outward are respectively formedin the vicinity of the entrance areas of the holding grooves 24 a and 26a of the spout holding members 24 and 26, the spouts S are at their headportions h inserted into the holding grooves 24 a and removed out of theholding grooves 26 a without hindrance. The spout holding members 24 and26 are in a plate-form and have a thickness that is approximately thesame as the heights of the grooves d and e between the flanges of thespouts S. Accordingly, the spouts S can be accurately positioned andheld in the spout holding members 24 and 26. In the tapered portions 24b and 26 b, the thickness decreases toward the tip end portions as bestseen from FIG. 5B, insertion into the grooves d and e is facilitated.Furthermore, the width of each one of the holding grooves 24 a and 26 ais set so as to be approximately the same as the distance between thegrooves d—d and the distance between the grooves e—e of each spout S.

Though a detailed description is omitted, the transfer between therespective working rotors 2 and 5 through 11 in the continuousmanufacturing apparatus for spout-equipped bags is performed in the samemanner as described above as well as the transfer between thecold-sealing apparatus 7 and the extraction apparatus 11.

In the rotary type transfer apparatus 14, one of the stopping positionsof the spout holding members 24 is taken as the transfer position D forthe spout-equipped bags; spout-equipped bags are transferred to thetransfer rail device 16 from the spout holding members 24 stopped inthis position. Accordingly, a push-out device 28 which pushes the spoutsout toward the outside in the radial direction form the holding grooves24 a of the spout holding members 24 is disposed on the rotary typetransfer apparatus 14.

As shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, the push-out device 28 is equipped with asubstantially L-shaped pusher 32 which is attached to the side surfacepart 29 a of an advancing-and-retracting plate 29 (which moves forwardand rearward), so that the pusher 32 is free to swing about a supportingshaft 31. An air jet pipe 33 is disposed facing forward (outward in theradial direction of the transfer rotor 25) on the lower end of an arm 32a that extends beneath the pusher 32. This airjet pipe 33 is connectedto a high-pressure source (not shown) via a switching valve and filter,etc. Furthermore, a slot 34 whose length is oriented in theforward-rearward direction is formed in an arm 32 b which extendshorizontally to the rear of the pusher 32.

A stopper 35 which regulates the position of the arm 32 a is disposed onthe side surface part 29 a of the advancing-and-retracting plate 29, anda spring guide shaft 36 is disposed so that this shaft 36 is free toswing about a supporting shaft 37. The spring guide shaft 36 passesthrough the slot 34 and extends upward. A compression spring 38 isattached to the spring guide shaft 36, and the arm 32 b is pushed towardthe stopper 35 by the driving force of this compression spring 38. As aresult, the arm 32 a of the pusher 32 is driven forward by a constantdriving force and is regulated by the stopper 35 so that the arm 32 a isordinarily maintained in a position in which the arm faces directlydownward. However, in cases where a resistance that exceeds the drivingforce of the compression spring 38 is applied when the pusher 32 ismoved accompanying the advance of the advancing-and-retracting plate 29,this movement stops; and the arm 32 a of the pusher 32 swings rearwardabout the supporting shaft 31 and is inclined as indicated by dashedimaginary line in FIG. 8.

Thus, the safety mechanism referred to in the present invention isobtained by combining a structure in which the pusher 32 is swingablerearward with the stopper 35 and compression spring 38, etc. As aresult, damage to the spout-equipped bags (and especially to the spoutsS) can be prevented.

A slide block 39 is attached to the lower part of theadvancing-and-retracting plate 29, and this slide block 39 is arrangedso that it is free to slide on a slide rail 41 which is fastened to thesurface of a base plate 40 (the base plate of the push-out device 28 andtransfer rail device 16).

The driving mechanism which causes the advancing-and-retracting plate 29to move forward and rearward comprises a drive shaft 43, a groove cam44, a swinging arm 47, and a connecting link 50. The drive shaft 43 isrotatably supported on a supporting stand 42 and is rotated by a drivingsource (not shown). The groove cam 44 is attached to the upper end ofthe drive shaft 43. The swinging arm 47 is swingable about a supportingshaft 45 and has a cam roller 46 that rolls inside the groove cam 44 inthe neutral position. The connecting link 50 is provided so that one endthereof is pivotably attached to a connecting shaft 48 which is fastenedto the tip end of the swinging arm 47, and another end of the connectinglink 50 is pivotably attached to a connecting shaft 49 which is fastenedto the advancing-and-retracting plate 29. When the drive shaft 43rotates, the swinging arm 47 swings, and the connecting link 50 is movedforward and rearward. As a result, the pusher 32 advances and retracts(solid line shows the advanced position, and imaginary line shows theretracted position).

A proximity sensor 51 is attached to the base plate 40, and a sensedmember 52 that is sensed by the proximity sensor 51 is attached to aposition on the rear part of the arm 32 b of the pusher 32. When thesafety mechanism acts as described above so that the pusher 32 swingsrearward, the sensed member 52 swings upward along with the arm 32 b, sothat the proximity sensor 51 no longer senses the sensed member 52. As aresult, it is known that the safety mechanism has operated.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a forcible discharge guide 53 isdisposed on the rotary type transfer apparatus 14. This forcibledischarge guide 53 is disposed above the transfer rotor 25 on theforward side of the transfer position D with respect to the direction ofrotation, and has a contact surface 53 a which faces outward from theinside of the movement path A. This contact surface 53 a contacts thehead portions h of the spouts S and acts to push the spouts S out of theholding grooves 24 a.

Next, before the transfer of the spout-equipped bags from the rotarytype transfer apparatus 14 to the rail conveying apparatus 15 isdescribed, the transfer rail device 16 and second rail device 17 whichform parts of the rail conveying apparatus 15 will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 11, the transfer rail device 16 is comprisedof transfer rail 54, a supporting shaft 56, a bearing member 58, and asubstantially L-shaped swinging member 59. The transfer rail 54 has apair of spout guides 54 a and 54 b on the left and right (these partsenter the grooves e of the spouts S, and thus hold the spouts S). Thesupporting shaft 56 supports the transfer rail 54 via a rail attachmentpart 55. The bearing member 58 is fastened to anadvancing-and-retracting plate 57 and supports the supporting shaft 56so that the shaft is free to rotate. The winging member 59 is fastenedto the upper end of the supporting shaft 56.

Furthermore, a stopper 62 which regulates the position of the long arm59 a of the swinging member 59 is disposed on an attachment pale 61 onthe advancing-and-retracting plate 57, and a tension spring 65 ismounted between a hook 63 which is disposed in an upright position onthe end part of the short arm 59 b of the swinging member 59 and a hook64 which is disposed in an upright position on theadvancing-and-retracting plate 57, so that the swinging member 59 isdriven in a right-hand rotational direction (i.e., in the oppositedirection from the direction of rotation of the transfer rotor 25 at thetransfer position D) and is pushed toward the stopper 62.

As a result, the transfer rail 54 is driven in a right-hand rotationaldirection by a constant driving force and is ordinarily regulated by thestopper 62 in a position in which the transfer rail 54 is oriented inthe forward-rearward direction (i.e., in the radial direction of thetransfer rotor 25 at the transfer position D). However, in cases where aforce that exceeds the driving force of the tension spring 65 is appliedin a left-hand rotational direction, the transfer rail 54 can rotate inthe left-hand rotational direction. As a result, damage to thespout-equipped bags (and especially to the spouts S) can be prevented.In the above, the spout-equipped bags are referred to by W.

A proximity sensor 66 is attached to the attachment plate 61, and thetip end of the long arm 59 a of the swinging member 59 also acts as asensed member which is sensed by the proximity sensor 66. When a forceexceeding the driving force of the tension spring 65 is applied to thetransfer rail 54 in a left-hand rotational direction, the long arm 59 aof the swinging member 59 rotates in this left-hand rotational directiontogether with the transfer rail 54, so that the proximity sensor 66 nolonger senses the arm 59 a. Conversely, by way of this, it is known thata force exceeding the driving force of the tension spring 65 has beenapplied to the transfer rail 54 in the left-hand rotational direction.

A slide block 67 is attached to the lower part of theadvancing-and-retracting plate 57, and this slide block 67 is arrangedso that it is free to slide on the slide rail 41. Theadvancing-and-retracting plate 57 is caused to move forward and rearwardby an air cylinder 68; as a result, the transfer rail 54 moves forwardand rearward. The rear-end position of the advancing-and-retractingplate 57, i.e., the rear-end position of the transfer rail 54 isregulated by a stopper 69 which is disposed on the base plate 40. Thetransfer rail 54 is ordinarily positioned in the rear-end position(i.e., the position indicated by solid line in FIGS. 8 and 10) and canbe moved to a forward position (i.e., the position indicated by animaginary line in FIGS. 8 and 10) as necessary by the driving of the aircylinder 68. This forward position is a retracted position in which thetransfer rail 54 does not receive spouts S.

The transfer rail 54 is disposed so that it is ordinarily oriented inthe radial direction of the transfer rotor 25 on the outside (withrespect to the radial direction) of the transfer position D of thetransfer rotor 25 and so that the spout guides 54 a and 54 b of thetransfer rail 54 are positioned on extensions of the holding grooves 24a of the spout holding members 24 stopped in the transfer position D.Furthermore, the spout guides 54 a and 54 b are set at a differentheight than the spout holding members 24. When the transfer rail 54 isin the ordinary rear-end position, the spot guide part 54 a that ispositioned on the forward side of the transfer rotor 25 with respect tothe direction of rotation of the rotor extends to a position thatoverlaps with the movement path A. The spout guide 54 b that ispositioned on the rearward side extends to a position that overlaps (asseen in a top view) with the tip end (tapered portion 24 b) of theholding groove 24 a of the spout holding member 24 that is stopped inthe transfer position D.

As seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, the second rail device 17 is comprised ofa pair of fixed conveying rails 71, a pair of belt conveying devices 72,and an air jet nozzle 73 and air jet pipes 74. The pair of fixedconveying rails 71 have respective spout guides (parts that enter thegrooves d of the spouts S and thus hold the spouts S) 71 and 71 b. Thepair of belt conveying devices 72 are disposed at a predeterminedspacing above the fixed conveying rails 71. The air jet nozzle 73 andair jet pipes 74 are likewise disposed above the conveying rails 71 andare connected to a high-pressure source (not shown) via a switchingvalve and filter, etc.

These components of the second rail device 17 are provided on the baseplate 75.

The respective belt conveying devices 72 are disposed along the fixedconveying rails 71. Each belt conveying device 72 is comprised of adriven pulley 76 which is disposed on the entry side (rearward side), adriving pulley 77 which is disposed on the exit side (forward side), aplurality of intermediate pulleys 78, a round belt 79 which is mountedon these pulleys, and a motor 80. The belt conveying devices 72 arearranged so that the round belts 79 contact the head portions h of thespouts S from both sides, thus causing the spouts S to be conveyedforward by the frictional force of the round belts 79 as the round belts79 rotate.

However, the spacing between the round belts 79 widens over apredetermined range in the vicinity of the entrance areas and thevicinity of the exit points of the belt conveying devices 72, so thatthe round belts 79 does not contact the head portions h in these ranges.The air jet nozzle 73 is disposed facing the head portions h of thespouts S in a position located just before the point at which thespacing of the round belts 79 begins to widen, and a pair of air jetpipes 74 are disposed facing the head portions h of the spouts S at theexit points of the belt conveying devices 72.

The fixed conveying rails 71 are positioned on the forward side of thetransfer rail 54, and the spout guides 71 a and 71 b of the fixedconveying rails 71 are disposed so that they are located on extensionsof the spout guides 54 a and 54 b of the transfer rail 54. The spoutguides 71 a and 71 b are set at a different height than the spout guides54 a and 54 b. In addition, the spout guides 71 a and 71 b extend to therear so that they overlap with the spout guides 54 a and 54 b whenviewed from above even when the transfer rail 54 is in the ordinaryrear-end position. Moreover, even when the transfer rail 54 is caused tomove forward by the action of the air cylinder 68, the transfer rail 54and fixed conveying rails 71 do not interfere with each other.

Here, the transfer of bags W with attached spouts from the rotary typetransfer apparatus 14 to the transfer rail device 16, and the transferoperation from the transfer rail device 16 to the second rail device 17,will be described.

In the rotary type transfer apparatus 14, when the spouts S held in theholding grooves 24 a of the spout holding members 24 stop in thetransfer position D, the pusher 32 (which has been retracted up to thispoint in time) advances so that the lower end of the arm 32 a contactsthe head portion h of the corresponding spout S held in the holdinggroove 24 a; this lower end of the arm 32 a pushes the spout out in theforward direction, and at the same time, high-pressure air jets towardthe head portion h of the spout S from the air jet pipe 33, so that thespout S is fed out toward the transfer rail device 16 and the secondrail device 17 located beyond the transfer rail device 16. In the rotarytype transfer apparatus 14, the groove d of the spout S is held in theholding groove 24 a; however, in the transfer rail device 16, the groovee is held in the spout guides 54 a and 54 b.

In the rotary type transfer apparatus 14, the spout holding members 24receive the spouts S from the spout holding members 26 which arecontinuously rotating at the same speed while the transfer rotor 25 isrotating at a constant speed. Accordingly, high-speed processing ispossible. Furthermore, since the spouts S held by the spout holdingmember 24 are transferred to the transfer rail 54 which is similarlystopped while the spout holding members 24 are stopped in the transferposition D, it is unlikely that errors occur when receiving the spoutsS.

Furthermore, the spout guides 54 a and 54 b of the transfer rail 54 andthe spout holding members 24 are at different heights, and one spoutguide 54 a extends to a position that overlaps with the movement path A,and the other spout guide 54 b extends to a position that overlaps withthe tip ends of the holding grooves 24 a of the spout holding members 24(as seen in a top view). Accordingly, the spouts S can be stablytransferred to the transfer rail 54 from the holding grooves 24 a of thespout holding members 24.

The spout-equipped bags that are fed out from the rotary type transferapparatus 14 pass through the transfer rail device 16 and enter thesecond rail device 17. The spout-equipped bags that have entered thesecond rail device 17 are held in the spout guides 71 a and 71 b of thefixed conveying rails 71 and are fed forward by the round belts 79 ofthe belt conveying devices 72 along the spout guides 71 a and 71 b.After the conveying by the round belts 79 is completed, thespout-equipped bags are forcefully fed further forward along the fixedconveying rails 71 by the air jet nozzle 73 and air jet pipes 74, andthese bags are then fed into the third rail device 18. While thespout-equipped bags are being conveyed on the fixed conveying rails 71by the round belts 79, these bags are conveyed in a densely concentratedstate on the fixed conveying rails 71. However, since the bags areconveyed by high-pressure air at and near the exit points of the fixedconveying rails 71, the speed is increased, and the spacing of therespective spout-equipped bags is spread out.

The spout guides 54 a and 54 b of the transfer rail 54 and the spoutguides 71 a and 71 b of the fixed conveying rails 71 are set atdifferent heights; and the spout guides 54 a and 54 b hold the grooves eof the spouts S, while the spout guides 71 a and 71 b hold the grooves dof the spouts S. Furthermore, the rear ends of the spout guides 71 a and71 b extend to positions that overlap with the spout guides 54 a and 54b when viewed from above. Accordingly, the spouts S can be stablytransferred from the transfer rail 54 to the fixed conveying rails 71.

In case where a device on the downstream side of the transfer raildevice 16, e.g., the second rail device 17, develops trouble and isstopped, the spouts S immediately stop on the fixed conveying rails 71and transfer rail 54, and following spouts S that are fed out of therotary type transfer apparatus 14 are obstructed by these spouts andtherefore cease to be pushed out from the holding grooves 24 a. Whenthis occurs, the safety mechanism is actuated so that the pusher 32ceases to move forward, and this is sensed by the proximity sensor 51.Thus, for example, the supply of bags and spouts to the spout insertionand temporary-sealing apparatus 2 is stopped, and at the same time, theair cylinder 68 is actuated so that the transfer rail 54 is movedforward, allowing an inspection or repair operation to be initiated. Thespouts S that remain without being pushed out from the holding grooves24 a are pushed out by the forcible discharge guide 53.

When only the supply of bags and spouts to the spout insertion andtemporary-sealing apparatus 2 (among the various parts of the continuousmanufacturing apparatus for spout-equipped bags) is stopped, the spouts,bags and spout-equipped bags that are conveyed through the respectivedevices from the spout insertion and temporary-sealing apparatus 2 andtransfer apparatus 8 onward enter the rotary type transfer apparatus 14from the transfer position C as product spout-equipped bags in theordinary manner. Then, they are pushed out from the holding grooves 24 aat the transfer position D. Meanwhile, the transfer rail 54 has moved toits forward retracted position, the spout-equipped bags that are fed outare not received by the transfer rail 54 but instead drop and arecollected in a predetermined position by means of a chute 81 (see FIG.2).

Accordingly, there is no manufacture of large numbers of defectiveproducts, and the problem of fusion of plastic to the sealing apparatusdoes not arise. Furthermore, there is no excessive pushing of spouts Sonto the fixed conveying rails 71, etc., on the downstream side of thetransfer rail device 16. Accordingly, a further trouble is alsoprevented.

In the above, the receiving of spouts from the spout holding members 24of the rotary type transfer apparatus 14 is avoided by causing thetransfer rail 54 as a whole to retract in the forward direction.However, as long as the receiving of spouts can be avoided, some otherappropriate retraction configuration may be adopted.

Furthermore, when a left-hand rotational force that exceeds the drivingforce of the tension spring 65 is applied to the transfer rail 54 forsome reason such as a spout S striking the spout guide 54 a of thetransfer rail 54 as a result of faulty timing of the stopping of thetransfer rotor 25, etc., this is sensed by the proximity sensor 66. Inthis case as well, the supply of bags and spouts to the spout insertionand temporary-sealing apparatus 2 is stopped in the same manner asdescribed above, and the air cylinder 68 is actuated so that thetransfer rail 54 is moved forward, after which inspection or repairoperations are initiated.

Next, the third rail device 18 and the accommodating apparatus 13 forspout-equipped bags will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 14 through 16, the third rail device 18 is comprisedof rear-side fixed conveying rails 82, a pair of block-form railconveying bodies 83 which rotate in the horizontal plane, and afront-side fixed conveying device 84. Each of the block-form railconveying bodies 83 is comprised of a chain 87, which is mounted in“endless” form on sprockets 85 and 86, and block-form rails 88, whichare attached facing horizontally outward around this chain 87. Therespective block-form rails 88 have a cross-sectional shape that is moreor less similar to that of the fixed conveying rails 71 shown in FIG.13B. In the linear portions, these block-form rails 88 are in a closecontact in the forward-rearward direction and face each other at apredetermined spacing. Thus, these block-form rails take an overallconfiguration resembling that of a pair of rails and move forward at aconstant speed.

The spout guides (not shown) of the fixed conveying rails 82 arepositioned on extensions of the spout guides 71 a and 71 b of the fixedconveying rails 71 of the second rail device 17, and they are set at adifferent height than the spout guides 71 a and 71 b. Furthermore, thesespout guides overlap when viewed from above.

The spout guides (not shown) of the block-form rails 88 are positionedon extensions of the spout guides of the fixed conveying rails 82 in thelinear portions, and they are set at a different height than the spoutguides, with these spout guides likewise overlapping when viewed fromabove.

Furthermore, the spout guides (not shown) of the fixed conveying rails84 are positioned on extensions of the spout guides of the block-formrails 88 in the linear portions, and they are set at a different heightthan the spout guides, with these spout guides likewise overlapping whenviewed from above.

Furthermore, a first stopper 91 that stops the spouts S on theblock-form rail conveying bodies 83 and an air cylinder 92 which raisesand lowers the first stopper 91 are disposed at predetermined positionsabove the block-form rail conveying bodies 83. A second stopper 93 whichstops the spouts S and an air cylinder 94 which causes the secondstopper 93 to advance and retract are disposed in predeterminedpositions above the fixed conveying rails 84. The air cylinder 92 isoperated by the detection signal of a detection device (not shown) whichcounts the number of spouts.

The accommodating apparatus 13 for spout-equipped bags accommodates apredetermined number of spout-equipped bags on accommodating rails 95.As seen from FIGS. 14 through 16, the bag accommodating apparatus 13 iscomprised of an empty-accommodating-rail feed-in device 21, afull-accommodating-rail feed-out device 22, an accommodating-railraising-and-lowering device 23, an accommodating-rail transfer device96, and an insertion device 97. The accommodating rails 95 are thoseknown in prior art. For example, the accommodating rails 95 have a pairof spout guides, and the grooves d of the spouts S are inserted and heldin these spout guides, as described in Japanese Patent No. 2500557.

The empty-accommodating-rail feed-in device 21 is comprised of a pair ofchain conveyors 98, both ends of which being mounted on sprockets, aseparating stopper 99, and a positioning stopper 100. The chainconveyors 98 carry empty accommodating rails (accommodating rails notaccommodating any spout-equipped bags) 95 and convey these emptyaccommodating rails 95 toward the accommodating-railraising-and-lowering device 23. The separating stopper 99 rises andstops the accommodating rails 95 beginning with the second accommodatingrail 95 from the leading accommodating rail 95 at the head of the lineof accommodating rails, and the positioning stopper 100 positions theleading accommodating rail 95 at the head of the line of accommodatingrails. In this case, slipping occurs between the stopped accommodatingrails 95 and the chain conveyors 98.

The accommodating-rail raising-and-lowering device 23 is disposed on thefront end part of the empty-accommodating-rail feed-in device 21; and itis comprised of two sets of engaging members 101 and 102, whichrespectively carry two accommodating rails 95 at a predeterminedspacing, and a rodless cylinder 103, which raises and lowers these twosets of engaging members 101 and 102. The engaging members 101 carry andraise the leading empty accommodating rail 95 on the chain conveyors 98,and the engaging members 102 carry and lower the full accommodatingrails (accommodating rails accommodating bags W with attached spouts) 95a and place these full accommodating rails on carrying tables 122 and123, which will be described below.

The accommodating-rail transfer device 96 is comprised of transfersuction disks 104 disposed in two rows an air cylinder 106 which isattached to an advancing-and-retracting plate 105 and raises and lowersthe transfer suction disks 104. The accommodating-rail transfer device96 is further comprised of raising-and-lowering guide shafts 107 whichguide the raising and lowering of the transfer suction disks 104,bearings 108 which are attached to the advancing-and-retracting plate105 and through which the raising-and-lowering guide shafts 107 slide,slide blocks 109 which are attached to the lower part of theadvancing-and-retracting plate 105, slide rails 111 which are disposedon a frame 110, and an air cylinder 112 used for left-right movement.

By way of raising and lowering the transfer suction disks 104 disposedin two rows, and moving these transfer suction disks 104 to the left andright, the above-described accommodating-rail transfer device 96suction-chucks the empty accommodating rails 95 on the engaging members101, moves these empty accommodating rails 95 to the accommodationposition E (described in detail below) for the spout-equipped bags, andplaces these empty accommodating rails 95 on carrying tables 113 and114. At the same time, the accommodating-rail transfer device 96suction-chucks the full accommodating rails 95 a accommodatingspout-equipped bags at the accommodation position E and places thesefull accommodating rails 95 a on the engaging members 102.

The insertion device 97 is installed above the block-form rail conveyingbodies 83 and fixed conveying rails 84. The insertion device 97 iscomprised of a pusher 115 which pushes the spouts S that are held by theblock-form rails 88 and fixed conveying rails 84 forward, an aircylinder 116 which raises and lowers the pusher 115, and a rodlesscylinder 117 which moves these components in the forward-rearwarddirection.

The above-described accommodation position E is positioned on anextension of the fixed conveying rails 84. The front and rear ends ofthe accommodating rails 95 are positioned by a positioning air cylinder118 and positioning member 119 at this accommodation position E. Thespout guides of the accommodating rails 95 that are positioned in thisaccommodation position E are positioned on extensions of the spoutguides of the fixed conveying rails 84; and the spout guides of theaccommodating rails 95 are set at a different height than the spoutguides of the fixed conveying rails 84, and these respective sets ofspout guides overlap when viewed from above.

The full-accommodating-rail feed-out device 22 is comprised of a pair ofchain conveyors 121, both ends of which being mounted on sprockets,carrying tables 122 and 123 which support both ends of the fullaccommodating rails 95 a, and an extraction device 124 which pulls thefull accommodating rails 95 a placed on the edges of the carrying tables122 and 123 as far as the chain conveyors 121. Feeding claws 125 whichprotrude outward are attached to the chain conveyors 121 at uniformintervals, and the feeding claws 125 move through the areas immediatelyto the inside of the carrying tables 122 and 123. The extraction device124 is comprised of a pulling member 126, an air cylinder 127 whichraises and lowers this pulling member 126, and a rodless cylinder 128which moves these parts to the left and right.

The full accommodating rails 95 a that are placed on the carrying tables122 and 23 by the lowered engaging members 102 are pulled toward thechain conveyors 121 by the pulling member 126 and are then engaged bythe feeding claws 125 and fed out.

The operations whereby the spouts S are transferred from the second raildevice 17 to the third rail device 18, and from the third rail device 18to the accommodating apparatus 13 for spout-equipped bags, will bedescribed.

The spouts S fed out from the second rail device 17 pass over the fixedconveying rails 82 and enter the linear portions of the block-form railconveying bodies 83. The transfer of the spouts S from the spout guides71 a and 71 b of the fixed conveying rails 71 of the second rail device17 to the spout guides of the fixed conveying rails 82, and the transferof the spouts S from the spout guides of the fixed conveying rails 82 tothe spout guide of the block-form rails 88, are stably performed in thesame manner as described above.

In the block-form rail conveying bodies 83, the spouts S are conveyed atslight intervals. Accordingly, the number of conveyed spouts S can beaccurately counted by the detection device.

Furthermore, the spouts S fed out from the block-form rail conveyingbodies 83 enter the fixed conveying rails 84. The transfer of the spoutsS from the spout guides of the block-form rails 88 to the spout guidesof the fixed conveying rails 84 is also stably performed in the samemanner as described above.

Then, when the air cylinder 94 is actuated so that the second stopper 93advances onto the fixed conveying rails 84, the spouts S are stopped atthis point and are held in a state of close contact. When the fixedconveying rails 84 become full, the spouts S accumulate in a state ofclose contact as far as the block-form rail conveying bodies 83. Thesespouts S undergo slipping with the spout guides of the block-form rails88. The number of spouts S that pass beneath the first stopper 91 iscounted by a detection device (not shown); and when this number reachesa predetermined value, the air cylinder 92 is actuated so that the firststopper 91 is lowered, and the conveying of the following spouts S isstopped at this point.

Meanwhile, in the accommodating apparatus 13 for spout-equipped bags,the empty accommodating rails 95 on the chain conveyors 98 are placed onthe engaging members 101 and raised. At the end of this raising action,the spout-equipped bags are suction-chucked by the transfer suctiondisks 104 and transferred laterally to the accommodation position E (inthis case, the full accommodating rail 95 a in which spouts wereaccommodated in the previous accommodating operation is simultaneouslytransferred in the lateral direction onto the engaging members 102).Then, the spout-equipped bags are positioned at the accommodationposition E.

Here, the air cylinder 116 is actuated so that the pusher 115 islowered. At the same time, the air cylinder 94 is actuated so that thesecond stopper 93 is retracted, and the rodless cylinder 117 is actuatedso that the pusher 115 is caused to move forward. As a result, thepredetermined number of spouts S that have accumulated on the fixedconveying rails 84 and block-form rail conveying bodies 83 are pushed bythe pusher 115, so that the spouts S are fed into the accommodating rail95 and stored therein.

Then, the engaging members 101 and 102 are lowered, and the fullaccommodating rail 95 a on the engaging members 102 is left on thecarrying tables 122 and 123. The air cylinder 127 and rodless cylinder128 are next actuated, the full accommodating rail 95 a is pulled ontothe chain conveyors 121 by the pulling member 126, and then the fullaccommodating rail 95 a is fed out by the feeding claws 125.

As seen from the description above, in the rotary type transferapparatus for spout-equipped bags according to the present invention,the transfer rotor is caused to perform a predetermined intermittentrotational operation that consists of stopping, acceleration,constant-speed rotation, deceleration and stopping, spouts are receivedfrom a working rotor that is continuously rotating at the same speedwhile the transfer rotor is rotating at a constant speed, and thesespouts are transferred to a stopped rail type conveying apparatus whilethe transfer rotor is stopped. Accordingly, spout-equipped bags can betransferred at a high speed, and receiving errors tend not to occur.

Furthermore, in the conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bags of thepresent invention, a rotary type transfer apparatus and a rail typetransfer apparatus are combined, and the rail type transfer apparatus isdesigned so as to be moved between an ordinary position and a retractedposition at which the receiving of spouts is avoided. Accordingly, evenin cases where devices on the downstream side are stopped due to troubleand some other reasons, there is no need for sudden stopping of themanufacturing apparatus for spout-equipped bags installed on theupstream side. Accordingly, the manufacture of defective products can beprevented, and the fusion of plastic to the sealing apparatus inside themanufacturing apparatus, etc. can be prevented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bagscomprising a rotary type transfer apparatus and a rail type conveyingapparatus wherein said rotary type transfer apparatus comprises: atransfer rotor having a plurality of spout holding members disposed on acircumference thereof, said spout holding members being formed withholding grooves that are oriented radially outward and hold said spoutsat grooves located between flanges formed on said spouts, a drivingmeans which causes said transfer rotor to rotate intermittently apredetermined angle at a time, and a push-out device which, above saidholding grooves, pushes said spouts out of said holding grooves of saidspout holding members that are stopped at a predetermined stoppingposition by means of a pusher which advances and retracts in a radialdirection of said transfer rotor; and said rail type conveying apparatusis disposed on a downstream side of said rotary type transfer apparatusand is comprised of a transfer rail device that is disposed on afurthest upstream side of said rail type conveying apparatus as a partof said rail type conveying apparatus, said transfer rail devicecomprising: transfer rails which are installed so as to be orientedradially outward from said stopping position and are used to receivespouts of spout-equipped bags from said holding grooves of said spoutholding members stopped at said stopping position and transfer saidspouts to a following rail type conveying apparatus, and a driving meanswhich moves said transfer rails from a position where said transferrails are installed to a retracted position in which said rails receiveno spouts.
 2. The conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bags accordingto claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in side surfacesof said spouts so as to be at vertically different levels, said spoutholding members of said transfer rotor and spout guides provided on saidtransfer rails are disposed at different heights; and wherein grooves ofsaid spouts that are held in said holding grooves of said spout holdingmembers and grooves of said spouts into which said spout guides of saidtransfer rails are inserted are positioned at different heights in anvertical direction of said spouts.
 3. The conveying apparatus forspout-equipped bags according to claim 2, wherein: among pair of spoutguides of said transfer rails, a spout guide that is positioned on afront side with respect to a direction of rotation of said transferrotor extends to a position that overlaps with a movement path ofcenters of spout holding positions of said spout holding members of saidtransfer rotor, and said transfer rails are arranged so as to swingwithin a horizontal plane; and wherein when spouts that are held by saidspout holding members and moved are brought into contact with a spoutguide that is positioned on a front side with respect to a direction ofrotation of said transfer rotor, said transfer rails swing horizontallyand escape from said movement path; when spouts that are held by saidspout holding members and moved are brought into contact with saidtransfer rails, said transfer rails swing horizontally and escape fromsaid movement path.
 4. The conveying apparatus for spout-equipped bagsaccording to claim 1, wherein said push-out device is provided with asafety mechanism which automatically stops a movement of said pushertoward outside in a radial direction of said transfer rotor when aresistance that exceeds a predetermined value is applied to said pusherduring said movement of said pusher toward said outside.
 5. Theconveying apparatus for spout-equipped bags according to claim 4,wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in side surfaces of saidspouts so as to be at vertically different levels, said spout holdingmembers of said transfer rotor and spout guides provided on saidtransfer rails are disposed at different heights; and wherein grooves ofsaid spouts that are held in said holding grooves of said spout holdingmembers and grooves of said spouts into which said spout guides of saidtransfer rails are inserted are positioned at different heights in anvertical direction of said spouts.
 6. The conveying apparatus forspout-equipped bags according to claim 5, wherein: among pair of spoutguides of said transfer rails, a spout guide that is positioned on afront side with respect to a direction of rotation of said transferrotor extends to a position that overlaps with a movement path ofcenters of spout holding positions of said spout holding members of saidtransfer rotor, and said transfer rails are arranged so as to swingwithin a horizontal plane; and wherein when spouts that are held by saidspout holding members and moved are brought into contact with a spoutguide that is positioned on a front side with respect to a direction ofrotation of said transfer rotor, said transfer rails swing horizontallyand escape from said movement path.